Growth of Primary Human Osteoblasts on Plasma-Treated and Nanodiamond-Coated PTFE Polymer Foils

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is widely used for constructing tissue replacements, particularly clinically used vascular prostheses, and is also applied in dental and orthopedic surgery, thanks to its non-toxicity, high chemical resistance, low surface energy and excellent thermal stability. We report here on a comparative study in which PTFE is modified with the use of DC argon plasma (8 W, 240 s) and is coated with hydrogenated or oxidized nanodiamonds (mean size 5 nm), with a view to achieving improved body acceptance of the bio-inert pristine material. The surface morphology characterized by scanning electron microscopy reveals a microscale and nanoscale structuring of the PTFE foils with comparable roughness among all samples (analyzed by atomic force microscopy). The water contact angle remains in the highly hydrophobic range (above 100°). However, the proliferation and metabolic activity of primary human hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts (studied for up to 7 days) are significantly enhanced by the plasma and/or by hydrogenated nanodiamond treatment (rather than by oxidized nanodiamond treatment) of the PTFE foil.